POSTBELLUM

Jibade-Khalil Huffman

Devil
postbellum
one geography
of simulated sex
updated from
the middle age
middle passage.
The incomparable
Donald Goines
Donnie Simpson
darling
currency
some
charbroiled midnight
when you are
done up for nothing
drawn down
the stairs from tending
to the surface
and frequency of
commercial interruption
pauses for breath
oily rags
piled up like gymnastics.
Pattern framed
dump truck
Bryant Gumbel.
Tall-tale
baleful
telegram
favorite uncle
stunned into
sunning oneself
on the hour
disguised in
a braided mullet
and stove pipe
hi top fade
like
a commercial
for McDonalds
during Black History Month
the only people
that care about Kwanzaa
are McDonalds.
The world has managed to change
or become the sole proprietor of
one kind of gumption
one brand of drums several dozen
patents for fondling everyone
he lays
his eyes on.